Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243 crashed near Aktau, Kazakhstan, on the morning of December 25, 2024, during what should have been a routine flight from Baku to Grozny. The Embraer 190 aircraft, which was carrying 62 passengers and five crew members, encountered severe weather conditions, reportedly diverting hundreds of miles off-course due to fog before attempting its emergency landing.
The plane took off from Baku at 03:55 UTC but had its last contact with flight data tracking at approximately 04:40 UTC, just before GPS signals were lost—an incident attributed to potential GPS jamming. After regaining contact, the aircraft descended rapidly until it crashed about three kilometers from Aktau International Airport at around 06:28 UTC.
Initial reports indicate the crash may have been catastrophic, with estimates of at least 38 fatalities. Kazakhstani authorities reported 32 survivors, including two children, who were rescued from the wreckage and hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries. Tragically, both pilots perished, according to statements from local medical workers and aviation officials.
Among those onboard were 37 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 from Russia, six from Kazakhstan, and three from Kyrgyzstan, according to Azerbaijan Airlines. Some witnesses described harrowing scenes, stating they observed injured passengers being pulled from the debris, with video footage circulating showing survivors stumbling from the wreckage as thick black smoke enveloped the area.
The crash appeared to stand as one of the deadliest incidents involving the Embraer 190 series, echoing the 2010 Henan Airlines crash, which similarly resulted in numerous casualties. The plane’s last known flight path revealed erratic changes in altitude before impact, leading experts to suggest the aircraft may have suffered mechanical difficulties, possibly related to bad weather or even bird strikes.
Reportedly, Russia's civil aviation authority posited a bird strike could have been responsible for the emergency situation aboard, prompting the crew's drastic decision to divert to Aktau instead of continuing toward Grozny. Compounding the tragedy, drone activity had previously led to the closure of surrounding airports, raising questions about air traffic safety during the incident.
After news of the crash broke, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev declared December 26, 2024, a day of mourning, expressing his condolences and wishing for speedy recoveries for the injured. Russian President Vladimir Putin also conveyed his sympathy to Aliyev and extended assistance, including medical personnel, to aid the recovery operations on the ground.
Local emergency responders, including 52 rescuers and their equipment, mobilized to the crash site, initiating search and rescue efforts amid the wreckage. Kazakhstan's Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed the commencement of investigations focused on determining the cause of the crash.
Azerbaijan Airlines issued public updates, confirming the provisional figures of those onboard and expressing solidarity with the passengers' families. They have suspended flights between Baku and Grozny and between Baku and Makhachkala pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Eyewitness accounts described the horrifying moment the plane made its final descent, images shared on social media depicting the aircraft bursting like a fireball as it hit the ground. Footage also showed first responders sorting through debris, highlighting the wreckage’s severity and the intense rescue operations underway.
President Aliyev, who was due to attend the CIS summit, returned to Azerbaijan upon hearing of the tragedy. While he expressed his condolences, he emphasized the significance of determining the causes behind the incident, underlining the necessity for safety investigations moving forward.
Embraer has stated its readiness to support investigations as authorities across Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia work together to gather evidence and ascertain the details leading up to the crash. The tragedy continues to resonate, affecting families and communities across the affected nations.
